Contents

Nicknamed Pecho de Águila (Eagle chest), he started as a forward but later played in defense or midfield for Motagua. He made his professional debut in the Honduran Liga Nacional on 7 March 1976 wearing the Motagua jersey in the 1–0 win against Campamento.[1]

Not to be confused with former Motagua teammate Héctor "Lin" Zelaya, Zelaya also played for Spanish Segunda División side Deportivo de La Coruña but an injury to his left knee prevented him from making an impact and he had to retire in 1983.[2] He played his final game for Motagua against Universidad, aged only 24.

Zelaya played three games for the Honduras U-20's at the 1977 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Tunisia.[3]

He then played in 7 World Cup qualifying matches in 1980 and 1981,[4] taking Honduras to their first ever World Cup. He made history by scoring his country's first ever goal at a World Cup Finals Tournament, when he scored against hosts Spain at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He put Honduras 1-0 up in Valencia after which Spain ended up scoring the equalizer.

After his playing career came to a premature end, he worked 25 years in the coffee business[5] of his wife's family. Also, he has been working for a children's football programme in Honduras called Fútbol para la vida.